Chapter 13

MAEVE

"As you wish Luna" Beta Stimpson responded to my request.

Why the heck was he calling me Luna? That was a question for later. For now we needed to hurry and get these women out of their cells.

I was trying to ignore my racing mind as a fumbled at each cell, with the keys that had been handed to me by Beta Stimpson. How could I have been so naive! I was beginning to fall for my captor, not realising he was the reason for everything that had gone wrong in my life.

The feeling of betrayal and embarrassment over my stupidity were crushing my very existence. I needed to focus. These women were depending on us to get them out. I needed to be strong. I could wallow in my own self pity later.

All of the cell doors were open, but some of the women remained unmoved in their cell. They were clearly conditioned through terror to stay where they were.

I stood tall projecting my voice across the basement.

"You have all endured far more than any of us should have to. You have been beaten, raped, and forced into submission. I will never understand how you have all survived. But here you stand. Through it all you are still standing. Strong women, that now have a choice to make. You can stay here, and continue to allow that tyrant to control your lives. Or you can fight for your life. Come with me. I cannot guarantee safe passage. But I promise, to lay down my life for every single one of you. I will not allow women who have already endured so much, to endure this pain any longer. FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM!" I urged.

The few that had remained in their cells began to move forward. The pain in their eyes was unbearable to look at. But there was something else there, something that I can only imagine these women have not seen in a long time. There was hope.

I looked over to Beta Stimpson who was carrying a woman unable to walk on her own.

"Beta Stimpson I do not know the way. Is there a way out through the basement?" I begged. Hoping there was.

He looked as though a lightbulb had gone off in his head.

"The escape plan!" He exclaimed.

He started searching around the bricks on the walls frantically.

"One of these bricks opens up a secret passage, that runs underneath the estate. Alpha Carson had it put in place, in case the coward ever needed to run!" He continued.

The women, Beta Carson and I all began to hastily try pushing all the bricks in the basement. I was beginning to panic, wondering how long we had left before Theo realised we were missing.

My heart sank as I heard warriors above us beginning to shout. "They're gone! Search every room in the estate."

Time was running out, and there were too few of us capable of fighting.

Just then, a woman with black hair started hissing trying to get our attention. I turned round to see her standing next to an open doorway within the wall.

I silently cheered, as we all made our way over to the doorway. Once inside it was dank and dark. I could not see in front of me, and only hoped this would lead us to safety. I was second from the front with Beta Stimpson leading the way.

He still had the unable woman over his shoulder resting one arm on her back, whilst his other hand was holding mind. My alternate hand was holding the woman's behind me. We had created a train as such, to ensure we did not get lost.

"THE CELLS! THEY'RE EMPTY!" I heard someone shout in the distance behind us.

"RUN" I whispered as loud as was safe, as we all picked up our pace.

We could see a light at the end of the passageway and continued to press on towards it. I could hear that the warriors had made their way into the passage. Time was running thin.

We broke through the threshold of darkness into daylight. I briefly looked around to see that we were outside the outer wall, at what looked like the back of the estate.

"Quickly follow me!" Shouted the Beta. "We need to get around the front to the safety of the White Claw pack."

We all ran as fast as we could. My legs were tiring, I was worried about the stamina of the woman that had been kept in captivity for so long.

I slowed my pace to allow myself to be at the back of our pack. I meant what I said, about defending these women with my life. If those warriors were going to catch anyone it would be me, not them.

I turned around to look behind me. I could see about 10 or so men chasing after us. They were beginning to shift into their wolves one by one. We had cleared the north side of the estate and were now on the west side with the wall to our left. We just had to get around one more corner and we were free!

I could hear the paws padding against the ground behind me getting closer and closer. I didn't want to admit it, but being unable to reach my wolf had left me vulnerable. I knew I would not be able to fight off Alpha Carson's men.

I did the only thing I could think of. I prayed to the moon goddess that my mate would be able to hear me. "ALPHA BAIN! I NEED YOU." I cried out as loud as my lungs would allow. Just then I was tackled by a wolf.

The women and Beta paused and looked, as though they were going to come to my aid.

"Run! Get to safety." I urged.

They still didn't move, and I could tell the other warriors were catching up with the one that tackled me to the ground.

"I COMMAND YOU TO RUN!" I bellowed.